Los Angeles

'Equal Pay! Equal Pay!': US Fans Chant From The Stands After Women's World Cup

/ CBS LA

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Team USA took home its fourth World Cup title on Sunday, in addition to something possibly more valuable: Fans showing their support in the U.S. Women's National Team's fight for equal pay.

Following the victory, fans in the stands began to chant "Equal pay! Equal pay!" The chant and the win will no doubt give the team more leverage in the ongoing lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The suit filed in Los Angeles in March alleges discrimination, among other claims, and demands equal compensation as compared to their male counterparts.

As the players held their trophy, they still had their eyes on another prize:

"I think everyone is ready for this conversation to move to the next step," said Megan Rapinoe, the team's co-captain. "I think we're done with 'Are we worth it? Should we have equal pay?' "

The two sides have tentatively agreed to go to mediation after the World Cup.

But LA-based employment attorney Anthony Nguyen says the latest trophy makes the U.S. Soccer Federation's position even harder to defend.

"And based on the allegations that are stated in the complaint, it seems like a clear cut example of sex and gender discrimination," he told CBS Los Angeles' Cristy Fajardo. "The Women's National Team is obviously much more successful, they are a household name, they draw in more revenue."

Following the win, the pressure on the U.S. Soccer Federation was building with the hashtag #PayThem trending. Below are some tweets that surfaced:

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